Battle of Quievrechain

The Battle of Quievrechain (August 1914) was a battle of World War I that occurred when the British Army launched a massive cavalry charge against a German encampment on the Belgian border and suffered heavy losses in the process. The British attempted to surprise the German 11th Division, which was bivouacked three miles east of the Menin Road, so that they could slide between German lines and come at them from the south at Geluveld. The British cavalry charged through a wheatfield to obscure their movements, and they surprised the Germans as they were eating breakfast in their camp, trampling their tents and slashing the Germans as they ran for their guns. Many Germans managed to retreat to the treeline, where they manned machine guns and mowed down scores of British cavalrymen, nullifying the British army's advantage. The British were forced to retreat after suffering heavy losses, with Major Jamie Stewart being among the dead.